This is the third Agatha Christie novel I’ve read, and I’ve definitely passed the threshold from wary curiosity to fandom. The first two (And Then There Were None; Orient Express) were so famous that even a detective mystery averse reader like me knew of them, but I’d never heard of this one. It was almost as good. The characters were fun, the mystery was interesting, and the whodunnit was a surprise, but definitely not a cheat.

I will say that I was a little surprised at the attitude towards women expressed throughout the story. Especially women “of a certain age”. Especially women who are childless. Especially unmarried women. I know it’s at least partly a function of the time in which it was written. I get – even expect – it as coming from particular characters, but it was so pervasive that I can’t help but wonder if it reflects the author’s beliefs as well, which would be disappointing to me, especially because I enjoy the female characters she creates, across the spectrum from hysterical and useless to strong and competent, from ignorant to intelligent. It’s a puzzle to me, but maybe it will become more clear as I read more in her body of work.

I am becoming even more fond of Poirot. He really is delightfully arrogant. Even his mustaches are delightfully arrogant.

Audiobook via Audible. I’m so glad I spent the Audible credit on this one. I could fall in love with Hugh Fraser’s voice. I read this for the 2018 Halloween Bingo square Terrifying Women Authors: mystery, horror, suspense or supernatural written by women.